It’s Go Time!

You know what’s at stake. If the Rangers win or get a Bettman Bonus Point for losing, or if they even get to OT, they clinch the first seed in the Prince of Wales conference and the Patrick Division title.

Or they clinch if Pittsburgh fails to get two points in Boston, no matter what happens in Philly’s Arena That Changes Names Every Five Minutes or Citizen’s Bank Park or wherever this game is tonight. The Penguins-Bruins game starts at 7:30 p.m., features two backup goalies, and has no significance for Boston.

Other games of interest tonight, in terms of potential first-round opponents (assuming the Rangers do eventually tie up the first seed): Toronto at Buffalo, Carolina at Ottawa, Winnipeg at Florida.

Henrik Lundqvist starts his 10th straight in goal, against returning Ilya Bryzgalov (chipped bone in his foot). The Rangers go with the same lineup, which means John Scott is prucha’d … which makes sense since Tom Sestito Tostitos has been out injured for the Flys … though Jody Shelley is expected to play for the first time since March 18. The Flys are also without Daniel Briere, who was hurt (upper back) on the Dick Vitale hit that started the rumble on Sunday. D Nick Grossmann was also injured in that game.

***************************************

Whichever way tonight goes, we’ll talk about it tomorrow with a Live Chat at noon. I am attempting to get some shrinks to join me in case people need to be talked off ledges. But I am presuming that we’ll instead be talking about the clinching, the events of the night, and the potential playoff matchups going forward. So join us. Or else.

Too bad they can’t do a scratch N sniff on that Shuttle subway platform, because I’ve been there a lot lately and it’s rancidly putrid down there. I mean, eyes tearing, trouble-breathing, almost crying bad.

It would be cool to see the NJ host the devils’ team. Only thing is no matter how big Christie’s office is, I don’t think Marty and Chris Christie would fit inside at the same time. That is one photo op that ain’t never happening.

holy shut up! the man has not stopped talking since the game started.. i just turned the speakers up really loud and he finally got the hint! Maybe i’d stop interrupting him when he’s talking if HE’D stop talking while my game is on! SHEEEEEEEEEESH!!

This game worries me. It’s great the rangers are up 4-0 but if they continue to blow out the flyers this game is going to get nasty and knowing how the flyers play at there arena why wasn’t Scott in this game, stupid.

Unless the officials are totally “on the take”, they know what is likely to happen, and they will probably warn both benches before the start of the next period – I wouldn’t be surprised if a call has gone to the officials locker room from Toronto already, telling them to keep this from being another ugly spectacle.

Lavi-eau-de-toilette might be the worst coach in the NHL (after Hunter and Boudreu). When is he going to learn? He constantly tries to fight the Rangers into a win. Every game he dresses some idiot goon and gets his players COMPLETELY unfocused. It’s insanity. He is horrible.

no one will admit this but John Scott was the primary reason the Rangers went on that skid a month ago

Tortorella got some worthless goon, tried to ham fist him into the lineup, and the Rangers briefly played like they were in Slapshot. Tortorella realized Scott was a talentless goon, relegated him to the bench, and the Rangers went back to winning.

I am a bit nervous just because of this…No way in hell do I not dress John Scott tonight. We DO NOT have a heavyweight in this line up (Rupp is a light heavyweight). Bad move by the coach IMHO. I mean if we ahd four lines that each played 15 minutes a night, I would understand NOT dressing him. It isn’t like if he played instead of mitchell we would be adversely affected by losing mitchell’s minimal ice time.

If some cheap shot happens and we lose gabby or cally or brich (argue all you want whether scott would be a deterrent or not. If the coach puts him on the ice he IS a deterrent, If the coach just glues him to the pine he IS NOT) and our post season hopes go down the drain, going to be a lot of second guessing about john scott (or even the bahama bomba).

Well, you’re wrong, Lloyd, but there’s nothing that has happened so far, and nothing that will happen later, that having Scott in the lineup will have/could have prevented. Shelley wouldn’t fight him. Nobody would fight him. He couldn’t prevent anything.

And what’s the worry? Who’s going to beat up these Rangers? Rinaldo? Please.

Carp, dead on. This is ridiculous. People are second guessing a coach who put his team in a position where they had to play with aggression and grit or get spanked and they have responded huge. How can you question anything about this game so far?

I mean I can be as much as a hater as the next guy, but byfugliening real.

:0 Pissies. We have to stay in course. Torts strategically “overcoached” violent violet LaToilet, so far. Not only giving task of personal cover (Artie/Jagr) but better matching Philties shifts as he is pleased.

I love how this takes life, so ok…hypothetical situation (note earlier I said why I was nervous about the whole situation, that is all I said. But everyone selective read, that is fine) we are up 5-0 and mezaros cross checks brich in the head and scott, who just happens to be on the ice, knocks the carcillo out of him in the ensuing scrum…never said someone had to square off with him in a “fair” fight

lloyd
no need to make it simple, but if that is what you feel you need to do, free blog and all go ahead.

I can not speculate on anything that might have happened (scott is NOT playing) nor can I guarantee anything that could have or would have happened (no offence but neither can you my friend).

Like I said, I WOULD have dressed him, the potential detriment to the team by having him dressed would have been minimal to the benefit of having him dressed. Just my opinion and clearly we are all very fortunate I am NOT the coach.

You don’t dress Scott because you think there will be a 4-0 lead. You dress John Scott in the event that Philly wants to send a message to the Rangers for the playoffs. Or if their goons begin running Richards, Gaborik, Callahan…

Gabby’s shot is nuts. It’s like he can gently pick up the puck and just place it in the net whenever he wants.

Also, in watching the Flyers this year (against the Rangers, at least), it’s like they get too caught up in the talking, fighting, showmanship, etc. and forget that the goal in the end is to still outscore the opponent.

I hate to admit it, I know Scott wouldn’t make much of a difference in the outcome of this game, but I’d prefer him to be in the lineup. Shelley has been going after Butt-Chin, Boyler, Step-On. Rupper isn’t in his league.

If the Rangers win this game, it will be the worst win of the season. They have played like crap for substantial portions of this game, trying to withstand pressure as opposed to pressing on offense, and giving all kinds of momentum back

Sorry guys, this is a crap game. Sure, the 5-on-5 play has been good, but when have we played at even strength? I can’t even say the penalties have been terrible, they’ve been legit calls. Despite their best efforts, the Rangers are still winning this game

Joe, you say it’s a crappy performance because of the lack of offensive pressure, then say the 5-on-5 play has been fine. As they’ve scored three PPGs, are you therefore complaining about the lack of offence on the PK?

BFF, I didnt see much of the 3rd period, so I cant really say with any accuracy, but, from reading the comments here, it seemed like they didnt get called for penalties they committed, while we got called for every possible penalty. IMO, no way did the “Philthy” Flyers not commit any penalties in the entire 3rd period.

It’s truly amazing that the rangers have clinched the best record in the eastern conference but what is even more amazing is there are still ranger fans on this blog who have complaints about the rangers game. I guess some people will never be satisfied, terrible way to live life.

i really hate it when fans of other teams complain about penalties their team gets called on… i was hoping NYR fans arent like that….sorry to say we are. pretty much all of the penalties on us were warranted being called penalties, in fact Stepan didnt get called for high sticking in the 3rd where clearly he high-sticked twice, and also earlier in the game we didnt get called for too many men (too many third liners on the ice) where one of the players literally jumped over the boards to save his behind.

“Ad the difference between me and you carp, is that if this team came out and looked great, i would be the first one to eat my words and say i was wrong about turderella, and be happy i was wrong. You,n the other hand, refuse to even acknowledge that there is a potential Ranger disaster here, and that the clueless coach “in charge” might be implicit in what is happening, or more accurately what is not happening.”

Carp, the 4-0 and 5-1 game accounts for maybe the first half of the game, and Lundqvist made a couple ridiculous saves to keep it that way. It just as easily could have been 4-2 or 4-3 after two periods. During the second half of the game, the Rangers consistently gave momentum back to the Flyers by taking a litany of penalties, none really good, and allowing the Flyers to come at them and try to weather the attack. After the midway point of the second it seemed the Rangers went into a defensive shell, which was hardly effective with the poor decisions they made with the puck. I can’t think of 1 scoring chance they had during the 3rd period. Overall, the 5-on-5 play wasn’t great, but it was good. The Rangers were also outplayed early in the 1st.

Yes, I realize that it’s hard to sit on a huge lead early in the game, but at this point in the season, the Rangers need to start getting in the Playoff groove. This was not it. The Rangers hallmark all season has been discipline and defensively responsible play. If the Rangers play this was against Boston or Pittsburgh, they get blown out of the building.

Yes, he hurt his hand. He said he told Marty to be ready. He said there were times in the third he thought he might have to come out. but he wanted to stay in. He said he expects it will take at least a couple of days, and that it will feel worse tomorrow.

fortunately, the Rangers have eight days until they need him. better pray he’s good to go in eight days.

Complaining about what, people? The Flyers is a good team, they were being embarrassed in front of their home crowd, and were about to get swept in season series. Of course they played their hearts out! If all wins were easy, the hockey wouldn’t be the same. Give your team credit for sticking with the game, killing penalties and answering the physical stuff.

Got to give Hank a night off. As much as I hate to see Biron playing when the presidents trophy is up for grab, a hurt hand is a hurt hand. You can’t win the stanley cup unles your goalie 100% and if his hand is hurt at all, his health matters more than the presidents trophy.

I never wan to see the shootout in the playoffs, but they should make an exception for the Panthers-Devils series, otherwise nobody will ever win. Might as well make it naked shootouts since nobody will be watching it either.

ahhh…..happy sigh and niters, too, for me…..let Marty have at least the next game. We’ve done it! And Hank could use the rest/heal time….but not too much!!! I leave you, a happy mama…no use for the NNs…….TA!

Great win, but I thought they played very nervously with the big lead. Almost like they were afraid something bad was going to happen.

-Boyle was really good again. Strating to play like he did last season and just in time too.

– McD was outstanding tonight. I marvel at his level of play and he is only 22!

– Girardi was very strong.

-Staal with three strong games in a row.

– MdZ was the weakest on th defense tonight. Looked unsure and more nervous than he has in a while.

-Cally was great ! What else is new?

– AA with a nice bounce back game.

– BR didn’t play that well tonight! I guess March is over so, will see.

– Gabby was fantastic!

– Hagelin with a nice bounce back game. I was becoming concerned that he might be running out of gas. Tonight he was very active.

– Rupp= joke! Carp, I know you like him but he is next to useless if he can’t win a fight. Tonight he got schooled by Shelly. Hopefully, we see Feds replace him on the fourth line with Kreider on the third. I know most of you think it not likely, but hey, Tony Amonte among many others have done quite well in the playoffs right out of college.

Fan for 45 years and can count the number of times on one leg that Rangers have truly accomplished anything at the end of the regular season- opening night next year we’ll be raising a banner- now lets just see what that banner is going to say.

I don’t really have a huge beef with Mitchell, mostly because he’s barely an NHL forward and I don’t know if anyone else considers him to be more than that. The guys I have no use for are Fedotenko, Prust and Rupp (and I guess John Scott who should be bagging groceries somewhere). Boyle was on my list but he’s played better lately so I can’t knock the guy.

why be fan if you only criticize the team?? especially on such a great achievement tonight?? the point of being a sports fan is to ENJOY.. i dont get it.. and i watch all 82 and never miss a period.. that negativity would ruin it for me

Prust is a beast. A penalty killer with speed, good discipline, and a great team guy. Stuck up or Gabby in this game, and handled himself well in a fight. Last season he was also a force shorthanded – he was among the league leaders in shorthanded goals.

He’s almost like a poor-man’s Ryan Callahan. He’s like a Ryan Callahan without the hands… But Prust can play. Another great acquisition by Glen (genius) Sather.